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I use plastic bag ties for pinning rod..
Yep I'm a cheap bastard..
But if it's free, why not?
A 0.5 mm drillbit works perfectly with most baggy ties I've found of this type..

Im not sure if there is a ban on paperclips in Norway but paperclips are cheap as dirt. you would only ever have to buy 1 box and be set for life

Though i have used twist ties to clamp pieces together with some success so thats something.

I use paperclips for larger minis.. It's a tight squeeze with a 0.8 mm bit.. So maybe up the dimension to 1.0 mm for paperclips..
Infinity is my new "habit". I've never worked with more fiddly minis in 28 mm.. :p
Paperclips are to big for pinning them..
The TAGS yes..

While I can appreciate the penny saved tactic...and even see the benefit of repurposing office supplies for miniatures...

...I can't bring myself to the hassle. Steel pins are hard on sprue cutters - so paperclips are not ideal (yes - I have tools to cut steel easily enough, but that isn't the point). Even then, when cutting the pins - a large percentage of them reach escape velocity and disappear...only to reappear months later under my foot.

Twist ties - being practically free - are also a softer metal. But time, always the time of keeping them, stripping the plastic, sorting them and all the rest...

Instead, just buy a spool of brass wire - or three...in different sizes.

For 0.5mm - 24 gauge brass wire is perfect (at 0.511 mm it is slightly large which makes a very tight fit). A 100 foot spool costs about $5. While at it pick up a spool of 18 gauge (1 mm pins) and you should be set for the next two or three thousand miniatures.

Figure my hobby time is worth the $10 on a nice brass pinning wire.

The only stuff that really benefits from a stiff pin are ill fitting joints or those on monstrosities like 2 foot tall metal and resin dragons. Those generally get some proper brass rod - or two in order to help resist torsional forces.

I cannot disagree with any word that Sean just typed.

It's the same thing with wire for sculpting armatures. I do have a bunch of scrappy bits of wire hoarded away, so I understand the appeal; but when I reach for something to use, it's a choice between the little faffs Sean listed, or picking out of a small selection of copper, brass or aluminium wire. Guess which I reach for 99% of the time. Can't say I buy it in 100ft spools, but I can't remember the price off the top of my head 'cos it's lasted me so long - and I'll bet I use at least as much of it in armatures than most of you use in pinning.

I've used speaker wire with the coating on before to good success. Finishing nails are what I typically have used. I've even used tooth picks as well. All have benefits and down sides.

Or you could just get a set of practically every small machinists size drill bit for just a few dollars, and that would cover nearly everything you need.

Dont find material to match the bit, match the bit to the material you have.

I have staples. As they come in various sizes, they're idea for all sorts of pinning. They can also be used to add ladders to vehicles or industrial scenery.

Staples are a good choice too

I've been using the same roll of bog standard copper wire since 15 years, I doubt it's even hal way.

I've never paid for paperclips, due to being a total anarchist.

 Vermis wrote:
Can't say I buy it in 100ft spools, but I can't remember the price off the top of my head 'cos it's lasted me so long - and I'll bet I use at least as much of it in armatures than most of you use in pinning.

Usually get mine from an industrial supply house - they actually sell it by the pound. 1/8 pound of 24 gauge is a bit over 100 feet. 1/8 pound of the 18 gauge is something like 25 feet or so. In any case, using them in little bits of 1/4" or less for pinning - that is a whole lot of pinned joints.

While (often) a bit more difficult to find than, say a craft store like Hobby Lobby - industrial suppliers are my preferred source as I can get the material in the specific hardness that I want. Annealed versus hardened, different alloys and the like. Also get a lot more for your money.

I spend $50+ on 5 miniatures... I might as well do it right, I like to use brass wire. Its just 2-3 cents per figure and it keeps my clippers from dulling. Most importantly It's classy.

Stay classy people.

Brass rod here. For infinity 0.5 mm and 1 mm.

paperclips for little things.
Brass rod for bigger things - the thickness will vary depending on what has to be pinned.

GW's old Inquisition 54mm scale space marine used 3mm rod.